Can you guess New Jersey’s most popular dog names? New study has the answer.
A U.S. News & World Report analysis of more than 500,000 insured dogs found classic names continue to dominate in the Garden State.
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Bella, Luna and Max are the most popular dog names in New Jersey this year, according to a new U.S. News & World Report study.
The rankings are based on an analysis of more than 500,000 dog records from a third-party pet insurance industry partner, covering registrations from January 2022 through June 2026.
Bella ranked as the Garden State’s most popular dog name, followed by Luna and Max.
The study found Bella also topped the national rankings, ahead of Luna, Max, Coco and Daisy.
Researchers said Bella and Luna have traded the top two spots nationally since the study began in 2023. They noted the names may reflect multilingual households, as “bella” means “beautiful” in Italian and Spanish, while “luna” means “moon.”
The report also highlighted the influence of pop culture on pet names. Characters from Disney films, “Bluey,” “The Lion King,” “101 Dalmatians” and other movies and television shows were well represented among the nation’s 100 most popular dog names.
According to the study, Bella was the most popular dog name in 25 states and tied for first in two others. Researchers found only five states had a top dog name that did not appear among the nation’s top 10.
The 2026 report analyzed dog names and owners’ state of residence using data collected in June 2026.
